Ashes 2019 | Usman Khawaja fully fit, James Pattinson set to make his comeback, confirms Justin Langer

In what comes as good news for the Australian camp two days ahead of the Ashes, veteran batsman Usman Khawaja has been declared fit to play in the first Test, after successfully passing a fitness Test on Monday. Coach Justin Langer also confirmed that tearaway speedster James Pattinson will also be a certainty in starting XI, barring a late mishap. 

"Usman Khawaja will definitely be in. He's fit, ready to go, he's playing well," Langer told reporters in Birmingham, reported cricket.com.au.

"He's a seasoned pro for us, he averages 40-odd in Test cricket, his hammy (hamstring) is good, he's running well, he's passed all the fitness tests so he's ready to go. He'll bat No.3," he added.

Speaking of Pattinson, Langer hailed the 29-year-old's hunger and determination to fight his injuries and make a comeback to the side, while admitting that he would "more than likely" find a place in the starting XI on Thursday.

"It's a great story isn't it, coming back from where he was as a young bowler, the back surgeries, to more than likely being selected for this Test match, it's a great story," he said of Pattinson.

Langer confirmed that the team management will ponder over two spots over the course of the next two days - the third-seamer spot and the opener slot. While the third-seamer spot is set to be a three-horse race between Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Peter Siddle, the second opener slot is set to be a direct face-off between Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris. 

Both Bancroft and Harris have piled truckload of runs in the opportunities they got, and Langer admitted that it will be no easy job to leave one of them out, come Thursday.

"The opening partnership's going to be really tough, between Cameron (Bancroft) and Marcus Harris, really hard. They've both got a really strong case," he said.

However, selecting the third pacer might be the trickiest of jobs yet. Starc was seen strugglingly evidently with the Dukes ball in the warm-up match, while Hazlewood, who was making his comeback from an injury, looked to be coming in terms with the rigours of the longer format. However, 34-year-old Siddle, who has been plying his trade with county side Essex, was the most impressive of the lot, as he staked his claim with a four-wicket haul in the first innings of the warm-up match.

"There's probably three to be fair, (Mitch Starc), Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood for one spot. Three pretty good players to try to find a spot for, I reckon," Langer remarked.